Church News: Hospitality

The youth Sunday school classes enjoyed the annual Easter Egg Hunt on Palm Sunday, April 1. There were approximately 10-12 youth who participated in and helped with the festivities.  Special Thanks go out to Kaye Broadbent, Shawna Melnykowski, Bret and Dee Nemeth, and Katrina Yeigh for hosting this activity.

Independence Home Days is around the corner! Mark your calendars for Friday, August 3 & Saturday, August 4 for the 96th annual home days event. The theme this year is all about CARS!


The Hospitality committee made and entered a float in last year’s home days and are looking for volunteers to help again this year. Please let us know if you are interested in helping either by donating supplies or money, your time, or walking in the parade. For all interested, there will be a sign up sheet on the bulletin board outside Pastor Jared’s office. 

General Conference Preview

Once every four years, delegates representing the entirety of the world-wide United Methodist Church gather to worship, discuss the myriad issues facing the church, and to set policy to govern how the church as a whole will operate during the following four years.  Because it is a top to bottom look at the church, this is an exciting time.  However, the vast number of issues that have to be addressed during the 10 day conference is almost overwhelming.  Here is a summary of the biggest issues facing the church:

• Being more Worldwide:  United Methodist Churches in the US have declined in membership and attendance for the last forty years while the church in Africa and the Philippines have grown.  Thus, 40% of all the delegates at this year's conference will come from outside the states.  As we consider how to organize ourselves, increased emphasis is being placed on giving leaders from outside the US a proportional place at the decision making table.

• Restructuring:  Driven by the continued decline in the US church, a major restructuring has been proposed.  We currently have 13 different agencies  that help to conduct ministry throughout the world.  The most prominent restructuring plan would combine most of the agencies into one body and then appoint 15 individuals to oversee their work.  Considerable concern has been raised as to whether that is shrinking the church too far and whether we will still have a diverse range of voices giving input into the direction of the church if power is invested in the hands of so few.

• Clergy Effectiveness:   One of the most controversial proposals is a major change to the relationship between clergy and the conference.  Currently, clergy agree to be appointed wherever in the conference the bishop deems they are best needed.  In return, upon ordination, clergy have been guaranteed that they would receive a full-time appointment if they remained in good standing.  Some have expressed concern that this allows clergy who are no longer effective to remain in pulpits and that as the church continues to shrink, we may not have places to put all clergy.  Many clergy have protested to say that the growth of a church has far more to do with the attitudes and openness of the people in the church and that removing the guarantee without giving the clergy a choice of where to serve is fundamentally unfair.

• Social Issues:  The UMC is a living organism that constantly tries to sense where God is calling us to be on social issues.  As such, at General Conference we adopt both policy and position statements that reflect where we are as a church.   This year, the most prominent issue regards working toward inclusivity in the church (with sexuality and sexual identity being the most debated).  Furthermore, issues of immigration, abortion, health care, economic justice and Peace in the Middle East will receive prominent discussion.

I will be attending the conference as a legislative monitor on behalf of the Love Your Neighbor Coalition and have been tasked specifically to work on the restructuring issue.   The hours will be long, but I look forward to being part of the discussion about how we can be church for many years to come.  I will appreciate your prayers and support.  You can follow all the action at General Conference at gc2012.umc.org.  

Church News: Trustee Corner

The Trustees would like to announce the results of our Pork and Kraut dinner on March 24th. We raised $690 from the dinner. We would like to thank Mike Naso, Pam Blair and Sue Kotabish
or helping with the cooking. The Boy Scouts from Troop #297 and their adult leader Pam Young were extremely helpful at our event. Jeanne Veverka, Tess Foltz, and Sue Kertianis were among the volunteer dessert bakers who helped us. Bret Nemeth and his friend Paris were a wonderful help in the clean up process. Thank you for the help from congregation members who supported this event!


Your trustees have selected a local contractor to waterproof and install new drain tile on the south and west sides of the church house on Hemoga. A new drain will be installed to keep the water from flowing up against the back wall, too. 


We have been working in the sanctuary's south wall fixing water damage by scraping, priming and repainting the wall. We hope to get a few volunteers to assist with painting the north wall, too. 


You will soon see the light at night as we have purchased materials to relight the bell tower. Church yard clean-up was begun before Palm Sunday. 


Beverly Veverka responded to our call for help in weeding. She has been busy weeding the numerous beds around the church. 


We would like to remind members that our building has numerous exits which are fire exits. Please keep that in mind as we have recently been inspected by the fire department and we need to keep the doors clear of tables and other items. Also as you enter the sanctuary in the area where the choir gathers on Sunday morning look up at the hidden fire gate. It is designed to drop down in case of a fire to keep a fire isolated. Please keep the area under the fire curtain clear of tables and chairs. 


Before the end of the Sunday school year, we will be having a fire drill. 


We appreciate all the help members have provided to help keep our facility in the best condition.
In an attempt to straighten up and clear up clutter, after the next coffee hour we will be making available the mismatched cups and saucers to the congregation for a donation. After that we will sell the mismatched cups and saucers on E-bay. 

Church News: Sunday Morning Adult Group

Great discussions about heaven followed our reading the adult written copy of HEAVEN IS FOR REAL. Recall it’s about a boy’s trip to heaven and back. This prompted further study of heaven and we started on March 25th the book SURPRISED BY HOPE, Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church by N.T. Wright. We study on Sunday mornings in the parlor at 9:15 a.m. with the use of a DVD and study guide loaned to us through the East Ohio Conference UMC Media Center. We have copies of the book available.


Shawna Melnykowski invited anyone to join the youth study group on the weeks they would be viewing/discussing the video SOUL SURFER, about a teenage surfer girl who summons the courage to go back into the ocean after losing an arm in a shark attack. Our study group joined them for three weeks and were glad to hear from, share faith and be enriched by the youth of IUMC. Thank you, Shawna!

Fasting for Lent

Matthew 4:2-  “He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished.”

From the earliest days of the church, followers of Jesus have undergone a time of spiritual preparation for the celebration of Easter.  Though the amount of time and the individual practices have varied throughout history, the time has always included two major elements-  meditating on baptism and confessing or doing penance for one’s sins.     In our modern context, many people embrace giving up some desirable item or practice throughout the Lenten season.  Though we don’t often use the term, the practice of giving something up is a form of fasting.

The spiritual founder of Methodism, John Wesley, fasted two days a week throughout much of his ministry.  According to historian Charles Yrigoyen Jr, “Wesley was convinced that fasting, abstaining from food or drink, was a practice firmly grounded in the Bible. People in Old Testament times fasted (Ezra 8:23). So did Jesus and his followers (Matthew 4:2; Acts 13:3), and Wesley saw no reason why modern Christians should not follow the same pattern...He found that fasting advanced holiness.”  

I think Wesley hits on the key to making the process of giving something up at lent more transformative. We shouldn’t give something up just for the sake of giving it up- we should seek transformation of ourselves and the world around us.  If you want to give up chocolate- great.  But do more than give up chocolate.  Spend a bit of the time you would use eating chocolate to thank God for the many gifts in your life that allow you to enjoy such a luxury.  Don’t just pocket your chocolate buying budget, take that money and donate it to something that will do some good-  like a hot meals program or the food bank.  This way, giving up chocolate causes you to enter into the practice of being more thankful and helps to transform the lives of the world in which you live.  That’s what it means to live into your baptism-  to strain everyday to allow the love of God to help you live as God intends.  It is only when that transformation occurs that we will truly be ready for the restored life promised in Jesus’ resurrection.

Learn more about John Wesley’s view of fasting in his sermon- "Upon the Lord's Sermon on the Mount."

Reading with the Pastor - In God's Presence

What is this "thing" called prayer? At sometime or another in our lives we have asked that question. Is it possible that the God of creation actually listens to and answers our prayers or are we having a monologue with ourselves? For those of us who have struggled with these and other questions concerning prayer, "In God's Presence" offers invaluable insights about this wonderful gift of communication.

Marjorie Suchocki shares with us her reflections about prayer from both a theological and personal perspective. She leads us through the various conceptions of what we think prayer "is" and shows us another view that moves beyond our well worn myths of communicating with God. We are challenged to look and examine every facet of prayer from the way we view God to offering prayers of thanksgiving and praise.

We will gather to discuss the book on Thursday, November 17th at 7:00 pm. A quick search of the library systems did not reveal any local copies, but used copies of this book can be found online for approximately $5.00. 

Please contact the church office if you would like us to order the book for you.

Saturday Sabbath Cinema - Janie Jones

After a summer hiatus, it’s back!

On Saturday, November 12th at around noon, we’ll head to Cinemark to catch the first showing of Janie Jones. The story is about a musician content with his rock-n-roll lifestyle whose life is turned upside down with the arrival of a 13 year-old daughter he never knew he had. Left to raise

Janie Jones, Ethan and Janie embark on a road trip of music and father-daughter bonding. Check out the trailer here as I found it to be quite moving: 

 Following the movie, we’ll head back to church to discuss the film. Hope to see you there!


Update:  RSVP for the event here.

Where are we as a church?- Pastor's edition

On Monday, October 10th, we held our annual charge conference.  Below is the full text of my pastor's report for that day:

Mission Statement-  The Independence United Methodist Church, along with other Methodist churches, holds our purpose to be that of making and being disciples of Jesus Christ, in service to God and to the World.  At the Independence United Methodist Church we are committed to growing in the faith through worship, study and service.

This last year has continued our transition from a congregation at rest into a congregation that is excited about actively taking steps to carry out the work that God has entrusted in us.  While the ultimate goal and the specifics of the work to which we are called remain hazy, we have been putting into place the necessary foundations for launching forth into even more radical life changing ministry.

We continue to grow into our understanding of what it means to be a radically hospitable church and people.  The baseline here was great-  many members of our congregation actively welcomed new comers .  Many of the faith stories of those who have joined or those who have recently began attending include the warm welcome they received when they first arrived here.  We have begun the work of sending hand written notes to first time visitors and are continuing to look at ways we can overhaul the way we welcome people.  We also are actively seeking out ways to welcome and show love to our community.  One simple example was opening up the church during home days so people could use the restrooms and serving water to those who sat on the church lawn to watch the parade.

Our worship service continues to evolve in a direction that is interactive and relevant.  The congregation has gotten used to the fact that worship will look different from Sunday to Sunday and they now come to expect that I will ask questions and ask them to take active steps to discuss or act out liturgically the message of the day during the service.  We have also hired a dynamic new choir director who is helping to continue to build upon our strong music program while expanding our styles and offerings.  We also reformed a monthly worship committee so that worship planning can be done more collaboratively and we can begin to dream about ways our worship can be enhanced.

I am especially proud of the direction the congregation has taken in intentional faith development.  In this past year we have launched a new weekly prayer group, a newly reformed youth group and enhanced and realigned our Sunday School classes to better match with the scripture and themes of worship.  All of these have been lay lead.  In addition, we started a new social issue forums group this summer that allowed nearly 20 individuals to come together to discuss and pray about our Social Principals and its connection to our faith.  Furthermore, I have had several members approach me with ideas of new groups that they want to help launch.  When we come together in ministry, we truly are stronger.

The highlight of our missions program this year is the agreement to partner with Pearl Rd. UMC on community meals every other month.  Though this program is in its infancy, I have already seen lives transformed in our congregation by interacting with and serving some of our or economically challenged neighbors in Cleveland.  We will continue to seek out hands on opportunities to engage in mission that changes lives- both our own and those we serve.

I am ecstatic about the progress the congregation has made in reigniting our sense of stewardship.  In 2009, we paid 18% of our district and conference apportionments.  By 2010, we had boosted this to 55%.  Through the end of August this year, we had already paid 49% off our apportionments and I conservatively project we will pay at least 80% by year end.  Furthermore, the finance committee has covenanted that 2012 will be the year we finally pay all of our apportionments.  The fact that we have done this without significantly cutting back on our ministry and while increasing our other missional giving is a testament to the hard work of the committee, the generosity of the congregation and is a sign of the movement of the Holy Spirit here in our midst.

Let us praise God for the good work that is being done amongst us!

Goals for continuing formation for 2012:

Radical Hospitality_____Work to gather feedback from those who are relatively new to the congregation as to how they were welcomed and how we can improve.  We will also reorient an existing committee or create a new group whose exclusive focus is on hospitality.  

Passionate Worship____I will work to help us identify the specific gifts contained within this congregation to create a unique worship experience.  I will work with the newly reformed worship committee to identify how we can vary our worship offerings to appeal to a broader range of people.  We will also explore adding multimedia equipment so we can communicate the gospel in different ways.

Intentional Faith Development__I will work to determine who would be willing to lead new small groups and how to identify those who might partake in new or existing small groups.  I also covenant to clarify what are the minimum characteristics needed to call something a faithful small group while still allowing flexibility in style and preference.

Risk-Taking Mission and Service___I will work to help the congregation determine how they can tell their faith stories.  We also need to continue to explore the needs of both Independence and the surrounding communities (especially the west side of Cleveland).  We will also work on a way to allow members to express and include their individual mission work not organized by the church as part of our faith story.

Extravagant Generosity___I will work with the stewardship chair and the finance committee to better communicate the state of our giving and of our spending.  I will also work with the finance committee to live up to our commitment to fully pay apportionments in 2012.  

Emerging Ministries Fund

For a church to be healthy and vital, it is imperative that it continues to explore new avenues for ministry both within and beyond the walls of the church.  While new ministries can at times be planned for in the standard budget cycle, the Spirit may move us to react to situations or members of the congregation may be inspired at any point of the year.  Furthermore, when we launch new ministries, it is difficult to know in advance whether they will succeed or fail.  Thus, if we try to budget for them, we are prone to either severely over or under-budgeting a specific item.  

As such, the finance committee has created an Emerging Ministries Fund that will serve as a seed fund for launching new or revitalizing current ministries.  The application process must be simple and flexible enough to encourage experimentation while also encouraging you to engage in prayer, planning and partnering (finding others who will commit to launching the new ministry with you).  Because starting new ministries is difficult and prone to failure, we expect that many of these ministries may be short-lived, but that a few will catch fire and launch our church in new directions.

If you have a ministry idea, just contact Pastor Jared to set up an initial appointment.  He’ll work with you to flesh out your idea and guide you through the (brief) application process.  May the Holy Spirit embolden us to launch our church in new directions to bring new people into the body of Christ.

Saving the economy...and your soul!

I both enjoy and consider it part of my job to constantly be reading magazines and blogs to keep up with trends and conventional wisdom in our culture. As part of this, I came across the Time.com article entitled - ““How the Newly Prudent Consumer Is Killing the Economy””. The article argues that one of the largest issues facing the American economy is that ““Today’’s consumers are increasingly likely to pay off credit card bills in full, skip vacations, dine out less, hold off on buying big-ticket items like new cars.”” As a result, our economy is suffering a crisis of demand- not enough people are consuming, so companies lay more employees off which means even more people cannot afford to buy.

Based on my rudimentary understanding of economics, I can’’t argue with the math or the logic. It does seem logical that if we buy less, less is produced and thus less employment will be needed in those industries. While the author does stress that people should not buy what they can’’t afford, I do object to the idea that we have a moral obligation to consume. Do we really need one more influence telling us to buy more stuff? Already, we live in a society where worth is often measured by the size of our houses, newness of our cars, whether we are wearing the most up to date clothes or have the latest form of technology (confession time- that last one almost always gets me). If we add on top of that a moral obligation to buy, I’’m afraid it may overwhelm any resistance we have toward opting out of a crass, materialistic value system. Is there really no choice between a collapsing economy and buying stuff we don’’t need?

The Gospels were written during a time of tremendous economic upheaval. Excavations of the Roman Empire show clear signs of poverty, misery and destitution. The skeletal remains of many inhabitants show that malnutrition and disease were rampant and that most individuals could only eke out a meager living. Archeological digs indicate that the wealthy ruling class in Jerusalem had an astonishing amount of wealth compared to the lot of the farmers in the countryside (sound familiar?). It is in this context that John the Baptist decries the rampant injustice that is occurring all around him. When the crowds ask what they should do about it, John replied "If you have two coats, give one away," he said. "Do the same with your food." (Luke 3:11)

Let’’s return to the question- Is there really no choice between a collapsing economy and buying stuff we don’’t need? John announces a third option- when faced with economic crisis, we are called upon not to hoard or to consume, but to give. Giving is the third option. If we are worried about people having enough to eat in this economy, don’’t buy a rolex- give money to a food shelter. They will certainly spend that money and put it to good use. If you are worried about employment, don’’t buy a new car- donate to a micro-lending organization like Kiva that gives those out of work the opportunity to be entrepreneurial. Give to a friend or a colleague or an organization that will use that money right away to continue to bring about God’’s kingdom on this earth. When you adopt the practice of habitual giving (as opposed to habitual consuming), you’’ll be amazed at the change. It will do more then help stimulate a flagging economy or to change the life of a neighbor in need. It will change you! Rather then clinging to your stuff, you’’ll find the joy that comes in letting go of that which society tells you is valuable. Free of this obsession for things, we’’ll have more time to experience the true happiness that comes from our newly strengthened relationships with our family, our community, and our God. As our values change, we’’ll discover that the kingdom of God was there to be had the whole time. We just needed to get rid of all the stuff that was blocking our view!

Shalom, 

Pastor Jared

Reflections on a year in ministry

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

In some ways its hard to believe I have already been here a year.  I can distinctly remember moving into my office and beginning the process of feeling out the congregation.  I remember panicking internally as I searched for names during the sharing of the joys and concerns and visiting many of your houses for some initial coffee chats.  And yet, in other ways, I feel like I’ve known some of you for years.  I am so grateful for how warmly this congregation has received me and I look forward to relying on your support and leadership in the year to come.

Though I thought I had a fair idea of what I was getting into when I accepted my appointment to Independence UMC, several things happened that I did not expect.  I have been stunned at just how flexible this congregation has been-especially when it comes to worship.  You quickly accepted that I do not wear a robe, you’ve seem to have gotten used to my penchant for asking questions in the middle of the service and you’ve enthusiastically embraced when I do something altogether different after the sermon like burning our sins or washing one another’s feet.  This was perhaps most reflected in the enthusiastic response to an entirely revamped Holy Week.  Thank you for your flexibility!    

I also have been encouraged by how warm and friendly we are to visitors.  I know it will embarrass her to say so, but if every congregation had an ambassador as warm and friendly as Alice Deyling, we’d all be bursting at the seams.  This openness to new people has resulted in increased attendance and having 12 new members join since last July.  Finally, I have found that this congregation takes pride in maintaining what we already do well.  Our trustees are constantly buzzing about the church and the congregation has responded generously when needs have arisen.  

Good job of maintaining what is here

As we begin another year of shared ministry together, I hope to see us grow in a few different ways.  More and more members of our congregation have stepped up to take leadership roles in vital, active ministries.  Because of this, we were able to launch a new prayer group, engage in hands on ministry with Nehemiah Mission, and explore working collaboratively with other Methodist churches.  I hope this leadership and renewed commitment will also help us to expand the programs that reach beyond the walls of our congregation to demonstrate the love of Christ through both our words and our actions.  Thirdly, I hope to work with Pam Young and others to build on the good work of the Work Mission Trip as week seek to enliven our youth and young adult ministries.

Though those are some individual areas, there is one bottom line goal that we must keep in mind.  God has a plan for this congregation.  Its bigger and bolder than anything we might imagine at the moment.  Let us have the courage to dream big about the opportunities God is going to set forth for us.  Let us willfully embrace the challenges we might face.  Let us truly be the body of Christ in this world so that all might come to know God’s love and forever be transformed.

Shalom,

Pastor Jared

Summer Reading

James 1:5- “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

As the school year ends, there is one gift that teachers often give students before they leave for the summer vacation. Just as they are about to head out the door, free of all responsibilities, they get the summer reading list. So much for all their free time! Actually, I find that books stretch me and help to inspire new understanding about my faith. Reading will often spark a series of ideas that help me to truly discern the direction God might want me to go. Knowing that summer is almost upon us, I wanted to provide you a suggested list of books that you might curl up with in the hammock this summer. I promise if you give them some time, God will open up your heart and mind in new and unexpected ways.

Peter Gomes- The Good Book: Reading the Bible with Mind and Heart (353 p.)- I came across this book as I began to seriously consider going to seminary. Gomes helped the Bible come alive to me by taking seriously difficult issues like race, gender and sexuality while also exploring what scripture says about joy, suffering, evil and goodness. I would recommend this book to any who struggle with the Bible and wonder how it can address the contemporary issues that face us every day.

Tony Jones- The New Christians: Dispatches from the Emergent Frontier (220 p.)- Something seems to be going on in the world. People, in the churches and outside, are questioning authority, forgoing traditional worship experiences and seeking to understand God on their own terms. In small pockets across the country, faith communities are responding in unique ways as they seek to explore God in ways relevant to the modern generation. This new way of doing church has come to be called “Emergent worship.” Jones book is very down to earth and helped me to discover new ways in which people are experiencing Jesus and to begin to rethink just what it means to “do church.”

Peter Rollins: The Orthodox Heretic and other impossible tales (183 very small pages)- Jesus taught his disciples through stories because they helped to inspire thought and imagination. Rollins tries to capture this dynamic by offering 33 new parables that teach critical lessons about exploring faith in the 21st century. Though each of the parables is only a few pages long and can be read in minutes, they can inspire hours of thought and conversation by coming at concepts of faith in a different way. If your not into long novels but just want to inspired in little bits and pieces, this is the book for you!

Lisa Dodson- The Moral Underground: How Ordinary Americans Subvert and Unfair Economy (211 p.)- This book was recommended to me several years ago and I found it compelling. Though it isnʼt a Christian book persey, it explores the difficult moral dilemmas we can face when -if- you work in the corporate world. The book uses the voices of ordinary Americans to try and explore the difficulties of trying to live and work with compassion in a “bottom-line” corporate world. It would be great for any one who struggles with how to live out their faith and values while working in the corporate world.

I have these four books and many more that Iʼm always happy to lend out. May God bless your reading with new insights and inspiration!

Fleeing from the Tomb

Mark 16:8-  “So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.”

Each of the Gospels describes the story of the disciples reaction to the resurrected Jesus differently.  Matthew has the disciples receiving his message relatively calmly and  has them respond by going out on mission through Galilee and into all the world.  Luke and John have different accounts, but the core theme in both is that the disciples either don’t recognize Jesus or express doubt at his resurrection.  My favorite post-resurrection account by far is Mark’s in which he has the disciples respond to seeing the risen Christ by fleeing in fear and essentially hiding under a rock.

Doesn’t that seem like the mostly likely, and logical, reaction?  Your messiah, your rabbi, has just been brutally slain.  At any moment, you think you might be next.  Suddenly, that person that you know died seems to appear before you.  I can tell you, if my long deceased grandfather were to suddenly appear before me, I might hightail it out of the room myself.  At the very least, I’m making an appointment at the nearest psychiatrist's office.

Though Mark’s Gospel ends on a cliff hanger, we know that this wasn’t the last word.  After all, if they had remained under a rock, there would never have been an early church.  Eventually, they must have managed to dust themselves off, shed their fears and begin to engage in ministry.  They began to tell their stories, love one another, and the movement took off like a wildfire.

Now that the spectacular miracle of Easter has occurred, do we find ourselves energized and engaged in ministry, or hiding under a rock waiting for the air to clear?  When God comes calling, there is certainly a part of me that always wants to stay hidden.  What if Jesus wants something hard?  What if the Holy Spirit directs me out of my comfort zone?  These fears are real and, in large part, justified.  We too have to go through a process in which some aspects of our life may have to die so that we may be resurrected today as transformed individuals.  We can take comfort and should celebrate the face that Jesus loves us and will take care of us for all of eternity.  But we can’t rest in that.  When the living Christ appears, we must eventually dust ourselves off, emerge from the shadows, and step out into the world.

Journey to Jerusalem

Luke 9:51- When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.

Lent is a journey with a destination.  We enter into 40 days of confession and repentance not to punish ourselves, but to prepare ourselves for the journey.  When Jesus began his ministry, he knew that he was stirring up considerable controversy.  After all, you can’t challenge the political, economic, and religious leaders of the day without making a few enemies.  But, so long as Jesus stayed on the margins of society, it was likely that his trouble making would be ignored.  However, Jesus knew that it was one thing to preach in the fields, eventually, you have to take the message to the seat of power.

So, Jesus turned to Jerusalem and began the walk that would inevitable lead to his death.  Can you imagine the courage it took to begin that journey?  He had already found devoted followers.  He had already healed people and helped to transform lives.  Wouldn’t it have been easy for him to just keep doing what he was doing?  To never take a risk by embarking on a new phase of ministry?  What would we do if faced with that decision?  Would we be content to stay comfortable and work where no one will bother us, or would we have the courage to follow God’s will and take the greatest risk of all?

We are quickly approaching the destination of our own Lenten journey.  We are invited to join with Jesus as he enters Jerusalem, as he has a last meal with friends, as he is tried and crucified, and as he is resurrected on Easter morning.  Sometimes, however, I think we tend to want to skip straight from the joy of Palm Sunday to the joy of Easter Sunday.  In doing so, however, I think we miss a significant part of Jesus’ (and our own) journey.  Being a committed disciple does involve sacrifice at times, and it might even mean that parts of our life have to die so that we can be reborn as transformed people.  To facilitate experiencing the fullness of Jesus’ journey, we will be holding services on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.  I hope you can join us in the entirety of this Holy Week journey so that like Jesus, we may be reborn and empowered to change ourselves and our world.

May you have strength for the journey.

Lent- Preparing us to be Free

Matthew 6:16-18- ‘And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

In a recent clergy session, one of my colleagues remarked that many people in her congregation dislike lent.  They complain that it is a dreary time of the church year when all of the focus seems to be on what people do wrong that culminates in the gruesome death of Jesus Christ.  Though I’ve never felt as negative toward Lent as others, I can see where her congregation is coming from.  Lent is indeed a time where we focus on preparing our hearts and minds for the coming Holy Week.  A good part of that is meant to be in reflection about the ways we fall short in living into the image of who God wanted us to be.  And there is no way to soften the atrocities that humans are capable of committing-  including murdering the very person who was sent to the world so that we could be reconciled with God.  

I think the main reason we will feel this is a dreary time is that we lose track of what the ultimate goals are and instead focus on beating ourselves up.  Our focus goes toward what we are giving up, the sins we persist in, and the gory details of our savior’s death.  I think Jesus spoke to this a bit in the above scripture.  Jesus doesn’t condemn fasting, but he condemns those who revel in the negativity by trying to out do each other by demonstrating just how miserable they really are.  In this way, the fast will seem like a punishment that is being imposed so that they can make up for the wrong things they have done.  

I think this fundamentally misses the point of what Lent is about.  Its not about reveling in the negativity- its about loosing the chains that hold us back so we can become newly invigorated people who are bursting forth with energy to spread the good news of what God has done in our lives.  Fasting is designed to free the time and money we would normally spend eating to use for pray and listening to God’s will.  Confession is designed to release us of the guilt of our sins so that we might move forward into being the people God created us to be.  Lent is not a time of oppression- its a journey toward freedom- the freedom to participate in the wonderful kingdom of God that is being formed right here on earth.  This Lent, let’s embrace the challenge to emerge from Lent not as depressed and disheveled people, but as people prepared to hear the startling news that we too have been given new life and are ready to emerge from the tomb.

God’s blessings be upon you during this Lenten journey.

Transforming Together

Acts 2:42  They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

After Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples were faced with the prospect of continuing on without him.  So long as Jesus had been physically present, he had been at the center of all activity.  Now that he was gone, what were they to do?  Would they go their own ways and return to their former lives? Would they launch a violent revolution?  Would factions emerge?  All of these were very real options and each would have been an understandable, if misguided response to Jesus’ ascension.  Fortunately, the disciples settled on  a different course of action.  Rather then drift apart, they banded together and grew into the people Christ intended them to be.

Similarly, when John Wesley became a pastor, he found a church that had lost touch with its people.  Few attended and those that did were rarely transformed by God’s grace.  Thus, he launched an effort to revive Christianity in England- not by building more and bigger churches, but by gathering small groups together so that they could contemplate God and hold one another accountable.

The early disciples and the early Methodists hit upon one important truism-  its very difficult to embark on the Christian journey alone.  Its too tempting to allow other influences to distract you from the path when you are all alone.  This is one of the reasons we come together in worship each Sunday morning.  However, as John Wesley discovered, Sunday worship is generally not enough to foster real growth. It doesn’t allow for extensive sharing of the struggles and joys of your life.  It generally doesn’t allow for conversation that can help one to perceive God a little clearer.

In a small group, friendships can grow.  In a small group, we can hold one another accountable.  In a small group, we can give space for a person to work through their grief.  After all, isn’t this the model Jesus taught us?  You gather together a group, maybe of 12 or so, do God’s work, and transform the world.

Coming without power

John 3:16-17-  "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.”

John 3:16 may be among the most well known texts in all of scripture.  For years, you couldn’t watch a football game without seeing a sign referencing it.  Though it is a much beloved passage, it might seem odd to highlight it in the midst of Advent.  You might rightfully ask yourself, did I forget Christmas was coming?

Truthfully, before today I have never considered how it might relate to the coming of Jesus.  I have associated the text mostly with the need to believe something specific about God.  However, I’m afraid I might have missed the point.  The verse isn’t so much about us as it is about revealing the character of God.  

When God felt that humanity had drifted from its intended purpose, the Creator did not wipe us out in a flood.  The Almighty did not send an army of angels to bring us in line.  The All Wise One did not even compel us to follow the Divine will.  No, when the gap between God and humanity became frightenly wide, God did not exercise power but choose to become powerless.  Jesus came as a baby, someone entirely dependent on his parents.  He became subject to fear, pain, grief, and all of the more difficult aspects of human life.  Jesus indeed came to set the world right again, but he did so by demonstrating that we are to live as people who enter into loving relationships with God and our neighbors by giving up our power and privilege.

In this Christmas season, may we follow Christ’s example.  May we seek to reconcile with those family members who may have become distant.  May we reach out to our neighbors, even those who get on our nerves, and be the love and peace of Christ for them.  May we seek to shape our lives so that with ever fiber of our being, our love will help us to set our the entire world right again.

Merry Christmas!

Reflections on the Book of James

Our Sunday morning study finished the book of James. One of the last two questions asked was, ““What did you learn and what will you remember?”” Here are some comments:

““The Sunday morning adult class has completed James. Something I will remember about James is the second chapter verses 14-26 giving examples supporting faith without works is dead. Our class had already discovered the idea of faith in action and had our ideas reinforced.””

"With so much to do and so little time to do it we all look for short cuts. Our adult Sunday School class has found wonderful "cliff notes" on having a closer relationship with the Holy Spirit. It's the new testament book of James."

Have you studied this book before?  What inspiration did you draw from it?

Ruth's Love Gift Box

Our Wednesday 10 am Bible study invites you to participate in a little project that we have conceived as a result of our study of the book of Ruth. It came about as a result of our consensus that Ruth was primarily about LOVE and was attempting to show us that when we love, we put our neighbor's welfare before our own-- i.e. Ruth's sacrifice of everything familiar to serve and take care of Naomi.

As the story came about because of a famine in Judah, we felt the urge to show our love for people in a similar situation today. What better example of this can we find than the one in Haiti as they are now plagued with Cholera on top of hunger and the devastation of the horrific earthquake there this past January? Thus, we decided that responding to this epidemic would be our No. 1 priority! In the next few weeks, we will make available to anyone interested a "Ruth's Love Gift box" that you can take home and keep someplace convenient. We would ask you to make an over-and-above gift of ALL your pennies, nickels, and dimes each day until our summer break. We will gather up this offering the last Sunday of the month starting with December and forward it to the United Methodist's Committee on Relief's Haiti Emergency fund. This money will go to support relief and development efforts due to the emergencies in Haiti. If you would like a box or have any questions, please contact any member of our class or the church office.

Finding a Dwelling place in Mission

John 14:2 “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”

In the Gospel of John, Jesus recognizes that his predicted death is a disconcerting message to his disciples.  He assures them that no matter where they go, he will already have been there preparing the way.  This should prove to be a great source of comfort for us.  We can be assured that when we or our loved ones pass from this life to the next that Jesus will be there making all things ready.  We can go with the confidence that we will be greeted warmly and there will be a place for us.  But this should not be seen as merely a future promise- after all, this world belongs to God just as much as the next.  

The immediate implication for us is that we need not fear whatever calling God puts upon our hearts.  Whether we are called individually to ministry with the poor, the sick, our community or the world, we can rest confidently that Jesus is already preparing the way for us.  I learned the truth of this last year when I participated with a community meal ministry.  My role was to serve as host, to greet each person warmly and to be available for prayer and conversation whenever it was desired.  Though this made me nervous as I can actually be shy at times when dealing with strangers, the warmth and joy I found in those I was helping to serve gave me confidence and strength.  I could see Christ’s Spirit all ready at work within our guests and I realized I just needed to find a way to participate with the work that was already being done.

Somewhere, Jesus is preparing a place for you to engage in ministry.  It may be among the poor, the sick, our community, or the world, but I can assure you that our Savior is already there at work.  But we too must be prepared to make a place for the ministry that is to come.  We need to make a place where we can through prayer and discussion to determine the specifics of where God is calling you.  This will require us to make space in our own lives both to listen and to serve.  But I can assure you that when we find the dwelling place in ministry that Jesus has prepared for us, we will find ourselves at home in God’s house.